Apparatus for handling treated articles



Oct. 25, 1932. G. L.. CHERRY ET AL APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TREATED ARTICLES Filed May- 10, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l www,

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'APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TREATED ARTICLES oct. 25, 1932.

FiledA May 10, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 25, 1932 UNITED STATES GEORGE LAFAYETTE CHERRY, CELAGRANGE, AND LEsLIE EAWCETT LAMPLoUCrH,l

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,v ASSIGNORS TO RATED, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPO-` .ArEARATUs ECR :HANDLING` TREATED ARTICLES,

Appiicamn mea May 1o, reeelVV semi No. 362,108.

This inventionvrelates to apparatus for handling treated articles, and more particu-` larly to a pneumatic seal and control means therefor designedfor use With strand treating apparatus. i

In the continuous vulcanization of rubber covered Wire, the vvire7 having a freshly ap-A plied covering of vulcanizable rubber compound thereon, is passed through a chamber containing steam at high pressure, Which vulcanizes the covering. From the steam chamber the vvire Apasses through suitable cooling. and drying steps, after Which it is'ready to be Wound upon take-up reels in the usual manner. In order to prevent leakage` Vof steam at the point Where the covered Wire emerges from the steam chamber,it is necessary to provide a seal which shall permit the Wire to pass therethrough and vwhich at the same time shall be substantiallyv steam-tight.

An object of this invention is to., provide means for effectively sealing a chamber `or other containerfor fluid under pressure While permitting the passage of an article there-` through, vvhich is controlled in` accordance with the operating conditions. y

In the preferred form of the invention, a plurality of nested flexible disks are disposed at the outlet end of thesteam chamber and are provided With apertures to permit passage of the strand therethrough, and a yield-` ing member engages the outer disk to limit.

its outward movement, theyielding member being held in position by pneumatic pressure which is adjustably controlled by asuitable control system. j

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection Withthe appendeddrawings,`

in which an apparatus embodying the invention, v

Fig. 2 isa longitudinal sectional' View of a modilied form of seal, Y v

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the means for controlling the pneumatic pressure exerted on the seal, A'

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional View of the sealing disks in assembled-relation,

Fig. l .is va longitudinal sectional vievv of.,`

-f Fig.` 5 is an elevational 'view of one 0f the sealing disks, and l Fig. 6 is a similar view of another'of'the sealing disks. 'j v v Referring lmore particularly to the draW ings in which like numerals designate the same members throughout the several'views, the reference numeral l0 designates a cylindrical pipe Which may be of considera-ble length and Which .formsa chamber l2 designed to permit the passage of a rubber covered Wire 14 to be vulcanized therein. Steam under pressure is admitted to the chamber 12 through an inlet pipe 16 and is maintained in the chamber at a pressure corresponding to the temperature necessary to vulcanize the covering during itsr passage through the chamber. The pipe lOis surrounded by a steam jacket 18v to vvhich steam is admitted through an, inlet20, the steam and condensate thereof passing out ofthe jacket through an outlet 22l to a steam trap (not shown). The steam chamber and jacket are. surrounded by a covering 24 of any suitableV heat ljinsulating material, a sleeve 26 being vfitted over one end of this covering and held in fixed relation to the steam jacket 18 by" means of ak pluralityv of vset screws 28, of. which one is shown in Fig. l.

- A tubular'member 30 (Fig. l) is threaded to the end ofl pipe 10 and supports a cylinder- 31 suspended therefrom by means of a collar 32. Member 30 is recessed at its outer end to permit sealing disks, indicated generally at 33, to seat therein.` A clamping member 84 is threaded to member and is shaped to clamp the outer edges of the disks in the recessl of member 30 in such a manner as to causcthem tov act as gaskets to prevent the escape of steam from the chamber 12. A knu-rled member 35, of fiber or other suitable heat insulating composition, is mounted eXteriorly of member 84 and is fixed thereto by means of a setscrevv 38, so as tovpermit member 34 to be rotated by hand forthe purposey ofadjusting it., The interiorvof member 84 is provided with acylindrical bore in which a hol- 91sy A its innerfend engaging sealing disk 60 to re-` f' strain thev disks against outward movement due to the pressure of the steam in chamber l2 against their inner surfaces, the retaining member being so disposed as to engage the disk 60 intermediate of the aperture 65 and the periphery of the disk, as seen in Fig. 4.

The retaining member 36 is yieldingly urged against the disks by a bell crank lever 37 which is carried by a bracket 41 formed integral with the cylinder 3l. Lever 37 has ak biurcated arm 39 which engages the outer end of member 36 at either side of the wire 14. The other arm 40 ot the lever engages a piston rod 42 fixed to a piston 43 mounted in the cyl inder 3l, the piston being urged upwardly by means of a compression spring 44 which surrounds the rod 42, and'being adapted to be moved downwardly by luid pressure, as de scribed below.

rlfhe cylinder 31 is supplied with pressure fluid such as compressed air through a duct 45 which, as .shown in Fig. l, extends along the steam jacket 1 8 in close proximity thereto over the greater part of the length of the steam jacket, the purpose of this arrangement being to keep the duct and the steam jacket at substantially the same temperature in order to minimize relative movement due to temperature changes. rEhe pressure fluid, which may be compressed air, is supplied from a container 47 (Fig. 3), whence it passes through an adjustable pressure reducing valve 48 of any suitable construction, thence through a constricted aperture 50 in duct 45 to the cylinder 31. At the end of the apparatus which is adjacent to the container 47 is positioned agauge 5l and a stop-and-waste cock or three-way valve53 having an outlet 54 and adapted, when in the position shown in Fig. 3, to permit tree passage of the air from 'the container 47 to the cylinder 3l, but capable of being rotated in the clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3 to a position where the iow of air from container 47 vis obstructed and the air in cylinder 3l is allowed to exhaust through out-let 54. Pet-cocks 56 and 57 are likewise provided at opposite ends of the apparatus for the purpose of temporarily controlling the pressure in cylinder 31 by permittingthe escape ofair.

The detailed construction ofsealing disks 33 is shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, from which it will be seen that a disk 60, of spring metal, and two disks 61 and 62, of resilient material, such as rubber, are assembled in nested relation. The number of disks may, of course, be varied in accordance with the steam pressures employed, and other factors. Each of the disks is provided with radial slits forming a plurality of inwardly extending tongues 63-64, the radial slits being arranged so that no two of' them are'in registry with each other, this arrangement preventing escape of steam through the slits. The disks are provided with central apertures 65-66 positioned to register witheach other when the disks are assembled, the aperture 65 being of slightly larger diameter than the covered wire to be handled by the apparatus, while the apertures 66 are of slightly smaller diameter than the VII'G.

The entire seal just described is positioned within a casing 67 which serves to conline such steam and vapor as may escape through the seal, an exhaust stack 68 being provided to carry away the steam.

A pulley 70 is positioned within the casing 67 in such relation that the wire emerging trom the steam chamber may pass thereover on its way to a take-up reel (not shown). A drain pipe leads from the bottom of the casing 67 and is designed to carry o the condensate of the steam in the casing as well as any excess liquid from other sources.

In the operation of the apparatus thus tar described, the covered wire is supplied to the steam chamber from a continuous extrusion machine or other apparatus of known construction, and is threaded through the steam chamber and seal, ov-er pulley 70, and passed to the take-up reel (not shown). Steam at the desired pressure being furnished to the steam chamber 12 and jacket 18, and tension being applied to the wire, the wire moves through the steam chamber, where it is vulcanized, and thence through the sealing unit 33, which permits its passage without permitting the passage of any considerable amounts of steam therethrough. It being desirable to cause the disks 60 and 6l to bear against the moving wire as snugly as possible without marring the covering thereof or causing excessive friction, the operator adjusts the pressure in cylinder 3l to secure the desired pressure on member 36 by adjusting the pressure reducing valve 48. When the machine is being started or when a new length of wire is being threaded into the apparatus, the Vvalve 53 is rotated ninety degrees in the clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, therebyreducing the air pressure in cylinder 3l, to atmospheric.v When the vulcanized rubber covering begins to pass through the seal, the valve 53 is returned to the position shownin Fig. 3, whereupon lthe air pressure in cylinder 3l gradually buildsup to that desired, a too rapid rise in the pressure being prevented by the action of aperture 50. rlhe pressure of member 36 upon the seal may be. completely released at any time by turning valve 53 as above described, or it may be temporarily reduced to any desired extent by partially or completely opening pet-cock 56 or 57 to bleed the necessary amount of air from the pressure line.

In the embodiment shown in Fig.- 2, a tubular member 8Ovv is'threaded to the end ofV pipe l() and has formed thereon oppositely disposed ears 81 supporting oppositelyV positioned pivot Apins'82 carrying eye-bolts '83,. of which one is shown in Fig: 2. A clamping" llt member 84; is slidably mounted upon the outer end of member 80 and is provided with slotted lugs 85 adapted to receive the eye-bolts 83. Nuts 86 are threadedly mounted on the outer ends of the eye-bolts, each of the nuts being provided with a slidable cross bar 88 to facilitate the quick adjustment and release of the nuts. By this means, the clamping member 84; is arranged to be held in its operative position, wherein its shoulders 89 clamp the outer edges of the disks 60, 61 against the end of member 80 to prevent the escapeI of steam from the chamber 12. A pin 87 is seated in member 8O and projects through indexing holes 92 of the sealing disks to keep them in proper registry, the pin projecting into acorresponding recess in member 84. The interior of clamping member 8i 1s provided with a cylindrical bore in which a retaining mem-` ber 90 is slidably mounted,- its inner end engaging the sealing disk to restrain the disks'against outward movement due to the pressure of the steam in chamber 12 against their inner surfaces, the retaining member being so disposed as to engage the disk 60 between the aperture and the periphery of the disk. The member is provided with an axial passage 91 to permit the covered wire to pass therethrough, which passage may be forwardly flared as shown in Fig. 1, or cylindrically drilled as shown in Fig. 2.

rllhe bell crank lever 93 shown in Fig. 2 is similar in structure and function lto the bell crank lever 37 shown in Fig. 1 except that its arm 94 is articulated at 95 to enable it to b-e swung laterally out of engagement with member 90 to facilitate cleaning the passage 91. Arm 94 is normally held in operative position by a spring pressed detent 96 seated in a recess in the arm and adapted to be withdrawn therefrom by means of a button 97 fixed to the outer end of the detent.

An eye-bolt 99 is pivoted to bracket 41 and extends downwardly through an aperture in the lower arm 100 of lever 93. Lock nuts 102, 103 are adjustably fixed to the eye-bolt 99 above and below the arm 100 to limit its movement in either direction.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to an apparatus for vulcanizing rubber covered wire wherein steam is employed, it will be understood that it is capable of numerous other uses without departing from the spirit of the invention as 55 defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid seal comprising a flexible sealing member adapted to permit the passage of an article therethrough, and a solid slidable retaining member yieldingly engaging Y ablyv mounted Vretaining member yieldingly engagingthe iiexible members against fthe action of iiuidpressure; V 1

3. (A. fluid seal comprising a flexible member having an aperture adapted to permit the passage ofa strand therethrough, a slidable member engaging the flexible member to maintain it in contact with the strand, yand j quick acting adjustable yielding means urgthe flexible member. .4. A fluid seal comprising a plurality o superposed resilient members having registering apertures ladapted to permit the pasing the movable member into contact with sage ofv a strand therethrough, each of said members being provided with slits extending outwardly from the apertures, a movable retaining member engaging the resilient mempneumatic piston yieldingly urging the retaining member against the disk.

Y 6. A liuid seal Vcomprising a resilient member adaptedto be secured to the outlet of a pressure fiuid container and having an 'aperture to permit the passage of a strand therethrough, a retaining member slidable toward and away from the container and supporting the resilient member, a piston connected to the retaining member to urge it toward the resilient member, means for applying motive fiuid to the piston to actuate it, and means remote from the piston for controlling the pressure of the motive fluid.

7. In apparatus for handling strand material, `a fluid ,sealadapted to permit the passage of a strand therethrough, means for adjustably controlling the seal comprising a conduit for pressure fluidfa restricted aperture in the conduit, and a stop-and-waste cock positioned in the conduit between the restricted aperture and the seal.

8. In apparatus for handling strand ma-` terial, a pressure fiuid container, a seal for thev container adapted to permit the passage of a strandtherethrough, and means for adjustably controlling the seal comprising a conduit for pressure iiuid, 'adjustable pressure reducing means in the conduit, a re stricted aperture in the conduit, and valve means selectively operable to permit and to prevent passageof pressure fluid from the pressure reducing means.

terial, a chamber for pressure fluid having an outlet aperture, a flexible member closing the outlet aperture against the passage of the fluid and being apertured to permit the 130 passage of a strand therethrough, a clamp- 9. In apparatus for handlingstrand mafric ing member secured to the chamber and engaging the periphery of the flexible member to cause it to form a gasket, said clamping member b-eing provided With a. bore, and a fluid operated slidable member mounted in the bore and yieldably engaging the iexible member to retain it in operative engagement With the strand.

l0. In apparatus for handling strand material, a chamber for pressure fluid having an outlet aperture, a flexible memberfclosing the outlet aperture against the passage ofthe fluid and shaped to permit the passage of a strand through the aperture, an adjustable member clamping the periphery of the flexible member in fixed position against the chamber to prevent leakage of the fluid, said adjustable member being provided With a bore, a slidable member mounted in the bore and engaging the flexible member to retain it in sealing position With respect to a strand passing through the outlet aperture, and yielding means urging the slidable member into engagement With the flexible member.

11. In apparatus for handling strand material, a chamber for pressure fluid having an outlet aperture, sealing members closing the outlet aperture against the passage of the pressure fluid and designed to permit the passage of a strand therethrough, a movable member for retaining the sealing members in sealing position vvith respect to astrand passing therethrough, and yielding means actuating the movable member and including a bell crank lever engaging the movable member and articulated to permit it to be quickly moved to inoperative position.

12. In an apparatus for handling strand material, a fluid seal adapted to permit the passage of a strand therethrough, a conduit for pressure fluid, a cylinder connected thereto having a piston, and a bell crank lever actuated by the piston for adjustably controlling the seal.

13. In an apparatus for handling strand material, a flexible fluid seal disc having an aperture to permit the passage of a strand therethrough, a clamping member engaging the periphery of the seal, a piston, a bell crank lever actuated thereby, and a retaining member engaging the seal between the periphery and the aperture thereof and responsive to movement of the lever for controlling the seal.

In Witness whereof, We hereunto subscribe our names this 29th day of' April A. D., 1929. GEORGE LAFAYETTE CHERRY.

A LESLIE FAWCET'I LAMPLOUGH. 

